Current:Home > StocksCrocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando -WealthSphere Pro
Crocodile attacks man in Everglades on same day alligator bites off hand near Orlando
View
Date:2025-04-19 09:11:40
A man was injured after being in a rare crocodile attack in the Everglades National Park in Florida on the same day as another man lost his hand in an alligator attack outside Orlando.
A 68-year-old man capsized his boat and was swimming to shore at the Flamingo Marina in the Everglades when witnesses saw him go under water on Sunday, the National Park Service said in a Monday news release.
The man was able to get to safety, and park rangers immediately treated him for a cut on his leg. He was taken to the hospital in stable condition, the park service said.
“Rangers and park biologists are continuing to investigate the incident and monitor the suspected crocodile, which is easily identifiable,” the agency said.
Watch:9-foot crocodile closes Florida beach to swimmers in 'very scary' sighting
Are there crocodiles in Florida?
Yes! Florida is the only place in the U.S. that American crocodiles live in the wild, according to the wildlife commission.
They are considered a conservation success story, as the population has grown to about 2,000 since 1975, when there were only a few hundred living adults. It is still considered a threatened species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The crocodile tends to be shy and stick to brackish or salt water, one of its main differences with alligators, which live in fresh water. Crocodiles also tend to be greyish green with pointed snouts, while alligators tend to be black with rounded snouts, according to SeaWorld.
There are approximately 1.3 million alligators in Florida.
Florida man lost his hand in alligator attack
A man was airlifted to the hospital after a roughly 9-foot alligator bit off his hand while fishing in a retirement community outside of Orlando on Sunday.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had not released the man's identity as of Monday, but a neighbor told the Daily Commercial, part of the USA TODAY Network, what she saw.
Sally Priest said she saw the man's arm in the alligator’s mouth and that the creature was rolling on the bank.
Experts call it a “death roll.”
Alligator attack:Creature bites off man's hand in Leesburg retirement community
Rescuers cut open gator to try to save detached hand
“I knew he was in trouble so I ran to call 911,” Priest said.
The alligator stopped its attack and went back into the water. A large crowd gathered to help the injured man.
His hand and part of his arm had been bitten off, she said.
A licensed trapper was called, who captured and killed the alligator. The gator was cut open so the victim's hand could be retrieved, but one of the rescue workers speculated that it could not be reattached.
“I feel so bad for the man,” Priest said.
veryGood! (33634)
Related
- Grammy nominee Teddy Swims on love, growth and embracing change
- Get a Tan in 1 Hour and Save 42% On St. Tropez Express Self-Tanning Mousse
- Texas A&M University president resigns after pushback over Black journalist's hiring
- Disney World board picked by DeSantis says predecessors stripped them of power
- The Super Bowl could end in a 'three
- The Navy Abandons a Plan to Develop a Golf Course on a Protected Conservation Site Near the Naval Academy in Annapolis
- Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder fined $60 million in sexual harassment, financial misconduct probe
- Why Richard Branson's rocket company, Virgin Orbit, just filed for bankruptcy
- How to watch the 'Blue Bloods' Season 14 finale: Final episode premiere date, cast
- Gwyneth Paltrow’s Son Moses Looks Just Like Dad Chris Martin in New Photo
Ranking
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Major effort underway to restore endangered Mexican wolf populations
- COP Negotiators Demand Nations do More to Curb Climate Change, but Required Emissions Cuts Remain Elusive
- Can Biden’s Plan to Boost Offshore Wind Spread West?
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- The Young Climate Diplomats Fighting to Save Their Countries
- ConocoPhillips’ Plan for Extracting Half-a-Billion Barrels of Crude in Alaska’s Fragile Arctic Presents a Defining Moment for Joe Biden
- AMC ditching plan to charge more for best movie theater seats
Recommendation
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
Why Richard Branson's rocket company, Virgin Orbit, just filed for bankruptcy
Plans to Reopen St. Croix’s Limetree Refinery Have Analysts Surprised and Residents Concerned
Coal Powered the Industrial Revolution. It Left Behind an ‘Absolutely Massive’ Environmental Catastrophe
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Define Your Eyes and Hide Dark Circles With This 52% Off Deal From It Cosmetics
Kidnapped Texas girl rescued in California after holding up help me sign inside car
5 things to know about Saudi Arabia's stunning decision to cut oil production